The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 375

236. The Final Battle (6)

[Wh-What?!]

Unlike his previous composure, the Platinum Dragon couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the sudden appearance of the airship.

“Prepare to fire.”

As Gordon Fabian raised his hand, gunports opened on both sides of the airship.

Woo-woo-woo-woong…

At the ends of the gun barrels, pure white light condensed, gathering particles of light into one place.

Kwaang-!! Kwang! Kwang!!!

Explosions erupted from the five gunports on each side, heading towards the Platinum Dragon with tremendous force.

The Platinum Dragon covered his face with his wings, creating a shield in front of him.

[To dare with such things…]

When the airship’s blasts hit the shield, they shattered the remaining debris of the Sun Hall with tremendous power, but the dragon’s shield remained intact.

“Sa, save me!!”

“Uwaaaack…!!”

The priests, who had been so dignified just moments before, fled the collapsing Sun Hall.

[Isn’t dying supposed to take you to the side of God? That should be your lifelong wish. Running away to live, what a joke.]

Arun scoffed at them as they fled.

“Gordon. Are you trying to break our contract?”

From behind the shield, Oliver shouted towards the airship firing at the Platinum Dragon.

“Break it? It was merely curiosity. I was just curious about the existence of a dragon. There’s a hierarchy to contracts, after all.”

“You…!!”

“We are not knights. We are a mercenary group. Fulfilling the first contract is the rule of the order.”

Gordon growled at Oliver in the ruined Sun Hall.

“And mercenaries live on the fringes, always risking death. It’s a life where dying at any moment wouldn’t be strange. If you’re going to walk that path, your family is no different from mercenaries.”

Clang-!!

As soon as he finished speaking, the connecting latch of the box attached to the lower part of the airship was released, and it plummeted towards the Sun Hall at a terrifying speed.

“Understand? You little brat. A mercenary’s family also lives each day with the acceptance of death. Using family to threaten someone is a despicable act that only works on nobles like you.”

Kuoong…! Kwang!! Clang! Drrrreuk…!!

Kung! Kung! Kung! Kung!!!

The box, due to its immense weight, completely shattered the ceiling of the Sun Hall as it fell vertically. As soon as it hit the floor, the latches unlocked, and the four sides of the box opened, unfolding onto the floor.

A massive, ink-colored giant revealed itself within the box.

Contrasting with the Platinum Dragon’s pure white scales, its appearance ironically seemed to shine even brighter in the darkness.

[Ascalon…?]

Arun Zaber felt disbelief as he muttered, staring at the massive golem.

“Caryl. One must use the right tools for hunting, don’t you think?”

Clang-!!

Drrrreuk…!!

The armor on Ascalon’s chest opened, and Caryl jumped up and pulled the lever in the cockpit as if he were familiar with it.

Jiiiiing…!!

At that moment, the eyes of the dragon slayer lit up.

[You know how to control a golem too?]

“Of course. In my past life, I was a Revol pilot.”

[Huh…]

Caryl wore a faint smile.

“I told Calypsson before that if he rebuilt Ascalon, I wanted him to make the interior as close to Revol’s form as possible. That way, even if I couldn’t use it, Wingel could use it instead.”

[Seriously, I thought there was nothing left to be surprised about… You’re a guy whose end I can’t see.]

Arun exclaimed, looking around the cockpit of Ascalon as if he were amazed by the scenery.

[It’s a golem that even the magic era couldn’t complete, but how did you revive it? I know that gnome’s skills are quite excellent, but…]

“Refining the activation stone isn’t something that can be done simply with skill. If it were possible with just the gnomes’ Magic Craft, they would have completed it during the magic era.”

[Hmm… Then?]

“Deryl Harian. That guy said he would send me a gift they had prepared. I guess this is it. The Golden Magic Society must have made Ascalon’s activation stone.”

Caryl said, nonchalantly manipulating the numerous levers in the cockpit.

[The magicians of the magic era couldn’t refine the activation stone, but the magicians of this era succeeded? Does that mean their magic level is higher than that of the magic era? That’s impossible.]

“But Deryl revived one of the three great phases that were thought to be extinct. If he really revived a dead divine beast as he said… then their magic level can’t be easily judged.”

[Reviving the dead… It’s just like corruption (墮落) [degeneration].]

Arun smiled bitterly, recalling the scene where Rael had tried to transform the priests a little while ago.

[From refining the activation stone to reviving the phase. I’m curious about the identity of the Golden Magic Society. I wonder how far their magic skills have reached, succeeding in what failed in the magic era. Depending on the situation, they could become an obstacle for us.]

“Aren’t you just upset that they succeeded in what the Council of Seven Elders couldn’t?”

[Keueum…]

Arun cleared his throat at Caryl’s joke and turned his head. Caryl stared at the magic mirror inside the cockpit and pulled the control stick with all his might.

Caryl’s magic scattered through the circuits installed throughout the golem’s body.

Jeujeuk…!! Jeujeujeujeuk…!!

Then, pure white light poured out from the greatsword mounted on Ascalon’s back.

[The output of the mana blade is more efficient than a human’s body. The maximum capacity to release magic power is much greater.]

Arun said, still analyzing the golem.

[I thought I could fully use the enormous magic power coming from the dragon’s heart now that I’ve broken through the wall of the 7th class, but I was wrong. It’s much more powerful to unleash it through the golem’s activation stone than the maximum magic power that can be released instantaneously from a small body.]

Clang-!!

The ring on Ascalon’s back was released, and the greatsword fell downward. Caryl grabbed it with his right hand.

As if magic power was being charged into the sword from the circuits connected to the back, the round disc embedded in the sword blade just above the handle began to spin rapidly.

Chiiiiik…!! Chiik…!!

The more the disc accelerated and rotated like an engine, the thicker the mana blade became on the greatsword’s blade.

[Kaaaaaaaak!!]

The Platinum Dragon opened his massive mouth towards Ascalon, and dozens of magic circles were created around his mouth.

“Now I can see it clearly.”

The power of the condensed light gathered into the Platinum Dragon’s mouth and poured out as a large sphere.

Kuoong…!!

Kareureureureureuk-!!! Clang!!

Ascalon gripped the handle of the greatsword tightly with both hands and cleaved through the breath that the Platinum Dragon was pouring out with all his might.

Peoeong!! Peoeoeoeong—!!!

The moment the greatsword’s mana blade came into contact with the breath, the breath split in half and began to be cut into pieces once again.

1st Crown Posture.

Caryl’s swordsmanship, unfolded with Ascalon, cut through the breath in a fluid manner that was unbelievable for a giant greatsword, and charged towards the Platinum Dragon.

“Everyone, evacuate!!”

Bellen Valentiun hurriedly rose and shouted as the Platinum Dragon’s wildly scattered magic destroyed various parts of the city.

“Your Majesty, this way…!!”

Kadin shouted with a pale face, clutching his shoulder where the Agnel [a magical artifact] made of Azure Blue was embedded.

“No. I will stay here.”

“But…!!”

“Didn’t you see that we can’t stop him with the power of the Order? If the Platinum Dragon falls, there will be no one in the Empire who can stop that man anyway.”

“Please don’t say such things. 1 million Imperial soldiers will fight with Your Majesty!!”

“My head will fall to the ground before that.”

“Your Majesty…”

Oliver slowly shook his head.

“Don’t worry. I won’t lose. He is the Empire’s guardian dragon.”

“Then I will stay too. I will protect Your Majesty’s safety no matter what.”

Kadin Luer shouted with lips that had turned blue from being deprived of magic power.

It was then.

[Kwak!! Kwaaaaaak!!!]

Kadin raised his head at the Platinum Dragon’s scream.

“…!!!”

At that moment, his pale face turned even bluer.

“No way!!”

Padeuk…! Padeudeuk…!

The Platinum Dragon’s severed tail, where the two people’s gazes were fixed, was flapping as if it were another living creature.

Cheueueueueueu…

Hot steam poured out from both of Ascalon’s shoulders.

Clang-!! Chwareureuk-!!

As if reheating the engine once again, the sound of machinery moving could be heard from Ascalon’s thigh area.

Not only did it cut through the breath, but Ascalon’s greatsword pierced through the Platinum Dragon’s shield and severed his tail in one blow. The cross-section was so clean that not even blood dripped.

[Keul… Keukeul…]

Arun, in contrast to Kadin who was shouting while looking at the screaming Platinum Dragon, forgot that he was a spirit and laughed, feeling a thrill that gave him goosebumps all over his body.

[Amazing!! This wouldn’t have been possible if you were just a human. After all, golems ultimately change depending on the magic power of the pilot. Caryl, it’s truly a stroke of luck that you’re piloting Ascalon.]

“What stroke of luck? It’s all my plan.”

[Keu, Kehahaha!]

Arun laughed loudly as if he liked his arrogant and confident answer.

[Good. With this much magic power…]

Arun said, looking at it.

[It wouldn’t be impossible to tear apart the dragon’s limbs.]

[Keureureureureu…]

The Platinum Dragon growled lowly, looking at Ascalon’s gleaming greatsword.

“Keukheuk.”

Gordon Fabian, who was on the airship, also chuckled at the sight.

“Caryl. You’re really something. Using yourself as bait to lure the dragon may seem like a reckless act to others, but to use me to send the golem here… It’s truly an unimaginable plan.”

Kuoong-!!

Caryl stepped on the severed dragon’s tail and lightly lifted the greatsword above his shoulder.

“More satisfying than expected. To be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to use Ascalon here. If it’s this powerful, it will be a great help in the upcoming wars.”

[Hmm? Isn’t that what you prepared?]

“Of course not. How would I know if Deryl Harian had completed Ascalon’s activation stone?”

[Huh… So you were really going to be bait to lure the Platinum Dragon out of Tatur without any countermeasures?]

Caryl raised the corner of his inner lip at Arun’s words.

“Of course not. I said I was setting a trap. I’m not the bait. I haven’t even set it yet, and the trap I prepared isn’t this either.”

[Then…?]

“It’s just that Ascalon made my trap even more perfect.”

Kung…!! Kung…!! Kuuoong…!!

It was then.

A loud noise, as if an earthquake had occurred, was heard from the main gate of the Imperial City in the distance.

“Stop it!! Stop it!!!”

“Absolutely do not let the giant inside!!”

“Uwaaaack…!!”

“Sa, save me!!”

The sound of battle could be heard from inside the main gate.

As if mocking the resistance of the Imperial City’s defenders, a pure white golem was rushing towards the Sun Hall in a straight line, destroying all the obstructive buildings in the city.

[Could it be…]

“Yes, that was the trap I prepared.”

The Imperial City’s defenders were stunned and lost their will to fight in terror at the appearance of the pure white giant, which contrasted with the ink-colored Ascalon.

[Revol.]

Arun knew that he had secretly ordered Wingel in the Marquisate, but he thought that the destination would naturally be Tatur, the main battlefield.

[This is a plan that stabs you in the back.]

“Keu… Keukheuk!! Kehahahaha!!”

Gordon burst into laughter at the appearance of Revol.

“Beheading him would be too comfortable of a death.”

Clang-!! Jeueuaaaang—!!

Revol, running, kicked off the ground with all his might and reached out his arm. The sound of the engine turning could be heard loudly along with the pure white light from his elbow.

Kwaaaaaaaang…!!!!!!

The moment Revol’s fist struck the Platinum Dragon with the propulsion of the engine, Caryl said in a cold voice.

“He should be crushed.”